New Jersey High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Sept. 2

After a long summer, the high school football season in New Jersey officially kicked off over the weekend.

Programs from around the Garden State opened their seasons with varying results, including three of the state’s top teams facing out-of-state opponents.

After the first slate of games, here’s a look at the updated top-25 rankings in New Jersey:

The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory. According to the model — four teams from Alabama rank inside the nationwide top 100.

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1. Bergen Catholic

Previous Rank: 1
Bergen Catholic comes into 2024 as the New Jersey Non-Public A defending state champions after the Crusaders downed Delbarton 24-14 in the title game last season. Bergen Catholic’s lone loss of the year came against Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna. They opened this season with another huge test against Florida’s IMG Academy, but fell to the Ascenders 27-14. Another major matchup looms this weekend as they travel to Ohio to face the No. 2 team in the Buckeye State: Washington.

2. Delbarton School

Previous Rank: 4 (+2)
Delbarton made it all the way to the Non-Public A state title game last year before falling to Bergen Catholic to cap an impressive 10-2 season. They opened 2024 in dominant fashion by beating Iona Prep, New York’s No. 1 team, 34-7 at home. Next up is a tilt with state top-15 team Malvern Prep.

3. St Joseph Regional

Previous Rank: 3
A 6-4 season ended with a quarterfinal loss to Seton Hall Prep last season, but the Green Knights are poised to be one of the best programs in the Garden State in 2024. Week 1 was arguably their toughest test of the season with an out-of-state road game at Baltimore St. Frances Academy. They fell in a 31-21 decision, but will have to rebound quickly with a game against No. 9 Seton Hall Prep this week.

4. Millville

Previous Rank: 6 (+2)
Millville fell to Mainland Regional in the Group 4 quarterfinals last year to finish off a 9-2 season for the Thunderbolts. Led by Alabama four-star wide receiver commit Lotzeir Brooks, they’re looking to go even further this season. They got off to a strong start in Week 1 by beating Holy Spirit 35-0, while Brooks broke the state record for career touchdowns receptions in the process.

5. Don Bosco Prep

Previous Rank: 2 (-3)
Don Bosco entered the season as the state’s No. 2-ranked team after falling to Delbarton last season in the quarterfinals. They face a daunting schedule that includes Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban, Red Bank Catholic, Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph and St. Peter’s. They opened the season on the road at Hoban, falling 21-7 to one of the premier programs in Ohio. Another tough test awaits this weekend with Red Bank Catholic hosting.

6. Toms River North

Previous Rank: 14 (+8)
The Mariners were one of the biggest movers in this week’s poll after after shutting down Downington (Pa.) East 31-2 in the season opener. Up next is a crosstown showdown with Toms River East, with North heavily favored to win that one.

7. St. Augustine Prep

Previous Rank: 9 (+2)
Donovan Catholic knocked St. Augustine Prep out of the Non-Public A quarterfinals a year ago, and the Hermits got a chance to avenge that loss in Week 1. They did exactly that and more by whopping Donovan 35-6. They’ll face Paul VI in Week 2 before three straight top-15 matchups against Cherokee, Winslow Township and Mainland Regional.

8. DePaul Catholic

Previous Rank: 7 (-1)
DePaul Catholic lost the Non-Public B state championship game to Red Bank Catholic in a 14-7 nailbiter in 2023. They opened against Pope John XXIII, routing the Friars 47-14. The senior class is loaded for the Spartans with the likes of Ohio State wide receiver commit De’zie Jones, Buckeyes cornerback pledge DeShawn Stewart, Notre Dame WR commit Elijah Burress, Penn State IOL commit Michael Troutman and Boston College ATH pledge Nolan James.

9. Seton Hall Prep

Previous Rank: 5 (-4)
The Pirates will once again play one of the state’s toughest high school football schedules in 2024, which includes the likes of St. Joseph Regional, DePaul Catholic, Delbarton, St. Peter’s, Pope John XXIII, Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic. They opened the season with a dominating 34-0 victory over Union, but will now turn their focus to No. 3 St. Joseph coming to town this weekend.

10. Mainland Regional

Previous Rank: 10
Mainland cruised to a perfect 14-0 season in 2023 with a Group 4 56-0 championship win over Ramapo. The Mustangs opened with Atlantic City on Thursday, squeaking out a 30-18 win. They’ll welcome Hammonton this weekend before three consecutive games against top-15 opponents.

Teams 11-25 in latest New Jersey High School Football rankings

11. Delsea Regional Sch (+1)
12. Winslow Township (+4)
13. Cherokee (+5)
14. Washington Township (+11)
15. Paramus Catholic (previously unranked)

16. Donovan Catholic (-3)
17. Phillipsburg
18. Hun School (-2)
19. Red Bank Catholic (-11)
20. Shawnee (previously unranked)

21. Camden (previously unranked)
22. Ridge (-2)
23. Old Tappan (previously unranked)
24. Cedar Creek (previously unranked)
25. Ramapo (-2)

Dropped out: St. Peter’s Prep; Pope John XXIII; Holy Spirit; Northern Highlands; Rumson-Fair Haven